Oregon Main Street (2024)

ADOPTED

Background

Downtowns are traditionally the heart of a community – the social, economic, and civic center. Many of our downtowns in Oregon are “diamonds in the rough" that need a little polishing to sparkle once again. Others are vibrant and want to maintain their competitive advantage. Oregon Main Street helps communities wherever they are in their downtown revitalization efforts. They provide support to organizations who are ready to roll-up their sleeves; develop a vision for how they want their downtown to look, feel, and function; and then attract the people and financial resources to bring about the change they want to see happen.

Oregon Main Street is a statewide program implementing the Main Street Approach™ trademarked and managed by Main Street America. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department holds an annual agreement with Main Street America to be the official statewide coordinating program.

Oregon Main Street provides training and technical assistance to communities participating in the Main Street Track of the Oregon Main Street Network and allows for access to the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant which funds building improvement projects that spur economic development for all Network communities (available once per biennium in odd years).

The proposed rule will include parameters for participation in the Oregon Main Street Network, describe how resources will be provided to participating organizations and establish primary structure for management of and participation in the Oregon Main Street Network. Currently, no OARs exist for the program and the program is linked to a significant statutorily created grant program.

OPRD will present the draft rule to the Oregon Main Street Network at their July 2024 meeting to help inform the language in rule.